Top Avaya Partner SPS Buys Providea Conferencing

* *Editor’s Note: Please click here for a recap of the biggest channel-impacting mergers in Q3 2012.**

Systems integrator Strategic Products and Services (SPS) said on Monday it has purchased Providea Conferencing LLC, a California-based provider of video conferencing and managed services.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, as both companies are privately held.

Providea represents manufacturers including Cisco, Polycom and LifeSize, and carriers including AT&T and Masergy. SPS is a top Avaya partner that also works with Microsoft, Cisco, Extreme Networks and other vendors. Together, SPS and Providea will provide UC and contact center products, and cloud and managed services.  

We anticipate significant developments related to collaboration, presence, video, instant messaging and cloud-based services as these technologies transition from independent applications to critical components of an enterprises overall UC strategy,” said John Poole, president and CEO of SPS. This acquisition strengthens SPS current UC portfolio and augments our managed- and cloud-based services to support the evolving needs of our customers.”

To that point, Todd Luttinger, president and CEO of Providea Conferencing, will keep operations responsibility for Providea. Luttinger reports to Jim Felicetti, COO of SPS.